Got lucky with Lucky Duck Wine.....at Walmart!

So we didn't head to any wineries this weekend, but we did find a surprisingly good tasting wine at Walmart called....Lucky Duck!!  With such cute branding I couldn't pass it up.......and I guess the price was appealing as well!!! $2.99 who can beat that!!  So I grabbed a Riesling and a Cabernet Sauvignon and headed on my way!!

Imagine my surprise when Karl and I opened up the wine and didn't rush to the sink to dump it out!!!

So if you are on a budget and you are looking for a good wine, don't hestitat when you are in the wine aisle....pick up some Lucky Duck. You won't be disappointed!!

Treasure of the week - Carivintas Winery

Normally for the treasure of week I will talk about a bottle of wine, but I couldn’t this time because the treasure of the week is a tasting room in Solvang called Carivintas Winery a place where they blend wine with Philanthropy.

I found this winery while flipping through the pages of Wine Country This Month while at a winery we were visiting and what sparked my curiosity was a wine bottle labeled with picture of a dog …..and to an animal lover this was a place that needed to be checked out. So we headed into Solvang.  

Instantly I was impressed!! Not only by the fact that you could bring your pet….but that they are affiliated with non-profit groups such as Best Friends Animal Society, The HSUS, and  many local animal shelters around the county. A portion of their profits are donated to these groups every year. 

The dogs and cats that have been rescued by these organizations are featured on their wine bottles and their story are on the back of the bottle and the stories are so heart felt!! 

They believe in their causes and this place just nails both their love of animals and their wine!!!! 

Foxen Wine Trail, Santa Barbara County

One of my favorite places to venture into is Santa Barbara County so this past weekend Karl and I planned to hit the wineries on the Foxen Trail in Buellton, Ca.  On that day we hit 5 out 12 wineries on the trail, this gives us a reason to go back and enjoy the beautiful scenery, rolling hills and the slight scent of the ocean air.....and of course the WINE.

When we pulled into Firestone we were greeted by miles and miles of vineyards lining the estate. It took my breath away. The winery itself was very inviting and their employees were just as inviting. Their wine tasting was $10 but I suggest not to do a share tasting with your partner because it’s well worth it if you taste the reserve wine as well as the estate wine and compare syrah, Riesling, Chardonnay just to name a few. Their wines were a complete surprise to both of us; there wasn’t a wine we disliked. From their crispness of their Riesling to their boldness of their 2007 Lineage it was no wonder why we joined Firestones wine club and took home a bottle of their Riesling.

The next stop was Curtis Winery which to be honest with you didn’t look all quaint on the outside but lined up against the mountain with vineyards surrounding the grounds, we decided to try it anyways and I’m so glad that we did. The winery was so inviting, gifts lined the wall and different mustards from a local venue were out on display for people to taste and ohhhhhh myyyyy the mustard was a treat, oh and I can’t forget their truffles!!  The wine tasting was $10 and for an extra $2 you can add a chocolate to your wine tasting which was a good pairing their Heritage Series Blended wines.

The next winery we came upon happens to be one of our all time favorites, the Koehler winery. The entrance is so inviting, you can’t see the winery until you cross a little bridge, a little duck Xing sign and drive up a hill to the tasting room and once you get to the top you have the most amazing view of their vineyards and the neighboring vineyards. Don’t be surprised if you are welcomed by one of their two Koehler winery cats. The tasting is $10 which includes a logo glass (we are now owners of 6 glasses)….we were both in agreement that the Estate Syrah was our favorite red, with the many layers of the dark plum and spicy finish you could only imagine how great this would taste with a nice juicy steak. The other reds we enjoyed were the Grenache, Sangiovese, and Les Trois Cepages which is a blend of the Grenache,Syarh and Mourvedre it’s certainly soft and elegant.

Our next stop was Fess Parker the home of Daniel Boone! The grounds were just lush and beautiful and the winery itself was just huge! But unfortunately for Karl and I we were very disappointed in the wine selection. Nothing we tasted tickled our palate. I ended up purchasing some cheese and sausage just to see if that would work with the wine they offered, but still we weren’t impressed. I think I was more impressed with their coonskin bottle toppers and Karl liked their coonskin etched wine glass….which we took home.  

We decided to just take a short drive down the road to the next winery….well we THOUGHT it was a winery as we headed through the electric gates (which should have clued us in) we continued to drive through this amazing manicured estate, vineyards just as far as the eye could see, a lake with ducks waddling around….we finally had a hunch that maybe the winery wasn’t here and most of the wineries we had visited in the past didn’t have electric gates….that’s when we turned our car around and exited the property and then saw their sign “WINE TASTING 1.8 miles”…..which took us to Zeca Mesa a winery nestled in the hills of Los Olivos the Viognier was our ultimate favorite with the aromas of honeysuckle and white peach hint at sweetness, however this wine is dry on the palate with notes of ripe apricot which would pair up nicely with chicken, oysters or tuna.

 ~ Jolene  aka. Oenophile

Wine and Weekends with my wife

I always have had a good palette for food but I never thought I would have the taste for wine.

When I met my wife she was a red wine drinker and I like both white and red so I introduced her to

the white wine Riesling, she was very surprised at how much she liked the white wine, so in some ways are wine tasting and experiments began.

I have always known that when it comes to food and smells that a taste and a smell can bring back a memory.So as we began our wine journey last year I was very surprised as to how wine and scents were able to bring back memories as far as my childhood. I’ve shocked a few of the employees and owners at some of the  wineries we have visited with my keen sense of taste and how a taste

of a wine could bring back memories, memories such as tasting honeysuckle when I was a child

how the Oak finish of a wine to bring back memories of cutting wood as a boy.

As I have been tasting wine some wine like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, may have a peppery

finish or perhaps a dark fruit finish, upon tasting this I can imagine myself on a warm spring or

summer afternoon enjoying a fine grilled juicy steak just rare enough so the meat and the wines compliment each other having tasting and sharing these experiences with my beautiful wife.

I hope as you go wine tasting can take some of these thoughts with you and begin to enjoy

The same things I have enjoyed on my weekends away with the one I love.

Until then enjoy good wine and good wine tasting.

Temecula Wine Map

As you can see above most Temecula Wineries are centrally located around Rancho California Rd near the 79 south and 15 freeways.

1. Hart Winery
2. Callaway Vineyard and Winery  (great winery, $12 tasting)
3. Bailey Vineyard and Winery
4. Miramonte Winery
5. Mount Palomar Winery
6. Falkner Winery
7. Thornton Winery
8. Churon Winery
9. Stuart Cellars Winery
10. Maurice Car'rie Winery   (wonderful tasting wines, $10 wine tasting)
11. VR La Cereza*
12. Briar Rose*
13. Bella Vista Cilurzo Winery
14. South Coast Winery (one of our favorite, $15 wine tasting )
15. Ponte Family Estate Winery (good wine, $20 wine tasting)
16. Weins Family Cellars (our personal favorite , $10 wine tasting)
17. Wilson Creek Winery (very beautiful winery, $12 wine tasting)
18. Palumbo Winery
19. Filsinger*
20. Leonesse Cellars ($12 wine tasting)
21. Keyways Vineyard & Winery

Tuscany in Tehachapi

 

Wine Tasting in Tehachapi

Most of our wine trips happen to be spontaneous fly by the seat of our pants ideas and today happened to be one of them. We couldn’t go very far because Karl had to be at work in the evening so we decided to just take a quick 40 minute trip to Tehachapi to check out two wineries that we came across last month but happened to be closed………………it was a Monday and a holiday.

We first came across Triassic Legacy Vineyard, a very interesting name for a winery I know, but it stirred our curiosity and as we drove down the dirt road…. I’m not going to lie I was wondering if I was going to see one of those little raptors run across the road but, all I saw were cute, furry squirrels scatter by.  Once we opened the doors to the winery we were quite taken back by the beauty of the place and a warm greeting by the owner, Chuck McCollough.

He shared with us about the making of the wine and how the winery got its name. Mr. McCullough a geologist recognized the characteristics of the terrain and soil as stemming from the Triassic Geologic Period.   He realized that it would be terrific for growing wine grapes, combined with Tehachapi's perfect climate for just this purpose and it worked!!! ……..and believe me, it certainly does.  From the Chardonnay to the Viognier, the Zin  to their mixed blend Syrah – Viognier blend there was never a disappointment. My taste buds were in love…………………..but wait!! I can’t forget the yummiest one of all! Their Port wine, now most Ports can be overly powerful but one little sip of the Port would make you crave a hot fudge sundae!! As I put a little bit of dark chocolate in my mouth just in that instant the Port just popped!! and I was in heaven!! ……..that is why it’s the treasure of the week!

The next winery we went to is Souza Family Vineyards. The view is just remarkable and the feeling that you get when you walk in is that you are part of their ever so growing wine family!! Bob and Patty Souza smiling from ear to ear welcomed us in to enjoy their wines and conversation! 13 choice wines to pick from …where should we start!!  From reds….to wines….to a Sangria….ohhhh the Sangria brought visions of me in the backyard swinging on the back porch sipping on this refreshing wine. We couldn’t leave without taking home Zin Del Sol a smooth red wine with a hint of a peppery finish which would pair so well with one of Karls steaks!

Wine DON'Ts...

Here are some informative "Wine Don'ts" adapted from the Complete Idiot's Guide to Wine, which is another good read and wine resource book! (The notes in the parentheses are ours.)

•  Don't store wine in hot places or in the sunlight.
• Don't keep wine in the trunk of your car.
• Don't store your wine standing up (keep the cork moist).
• Don't fill a wineglass more than halfway (so you can swirl it).
• Don't serve wine in new, unwashed glasses.
• Don't pop the champagne cork. Slowly twist it and pull it off.
• Don't serve a white wine too cold, or reds too warm.
• Don't buy wine from the store window.
• Don't give too much attention to wine snobs.
• Don't assume a vintage date means good quality
• Don't assume a cork in a bottle is a sign of good quality.
• Don't fail to ask when you don't understand wine terminology.
• Don't take the 100-point rating system too seriously.
• Don't assume all Napa wines are superior. (Notice the many awards Temecula wineries have won)
• Don't assume the words "reserve" or "classic" on a U.S. wine label have any significance.
• Don't assume all bottle-aged wine in a single case will be of the same quality.
• Don't accept a faulty wine in a restaurant.
• Don't accept a bottle in a restaurant that hasn't been opened at your table.
 

 

About the Treasure of the week - March 7, 2011

 

Wilson Creek Winery has gone above and beyond in their sponsorship and support of Reality Rally Temecula Valley with the private label wine release of Reality Red and Reality Riesling. 

Light straw color, very floral and spicy in the nose. Flavors of juicy fruit peach and pear. Clean bright finish with a lingering of sweet fruits. All net proceeds of the 2011 Reality Rally Temecula Valley will benefit Michelle's Place which provides emotional and educational support to those touched with breast cancer.

Tips while out wine tasting

Check out the main CVS, Walgreens, or local drug store near the wineries most likely they will have the wine you want for half   the price that they sell at the wineries. 

Check online for winery coupons. Some will have 2 for one tasting or a percentage off the purchase of a bottle of wine. Just read the days that the coupon is good for 

Drink water. A good rule of thumb is to drink one bottle of water per winery:  It's a great idea because the water keeps you from becoming dehydrated (and more intoxicated) by the wine.

Avoid wearing perfume or cologne.  Sure you might want to impress a date by smelling really nice, but it really interferes with the tasting experience (for you and others around you). It is confusing when you are trying to pick up the berry aromas in a wine and you smell "Seduction" instead.

Our trip to Temecula Wine Country

Karl and I took a trip to Temecula’s wine country and had the most amazing time. There’s nothing better than escaping the desert for a day of wine tasting, beautiful wineries and stunning vineyards. We started off our wine adventure at Callaway winery and just loved the ambiance of the tasting room, informative employees and the wine was oh so good! We then went across the way to Thronton Winery, we really didn’t stay long just because it was just consumed with so many events and their tasting room was moved outside ….it just seemed like it was scattered all over the place, so we opted to just leave and come back another time. That’s when we made a plan…..lets start from the top and work our way down.That brought us to Wilson Creek Winery and it was amazingly breathtaking…..creeks, bridges, fountains, beautiful restaurant and the tasting room was so inviting!! Then we were hooked!  We then ventured to Wiens Winery which blew us away…..and our wine guy “Richard” was so engaging, that Karl and Mr. Wien guy just talked wine and memories, I didn’t quite mind their analogies  because Richard kept throwing wine our way!!

 I was amazed during the tastings how many memories Karl had by just taking a sip of wine…… during one sip it brought him back to tasting honey suckle as a child and he looked at me like I had a honey suckle story as well….dude I grew up in Sylmar I wasn’t tasting anything that was growing in the field across from the house, because I truly doubt it was honeysuckle it probably would be some flower that would send me into some hallucination. Then while tasting a red wine he stated it tasted like a branch or a limb of a branch, I being on a wine high said “hmmm I don’t go around licking branches so I have no idea what a limb of a branch taste like”. He then explained to me it was more like a reed that you would use while playing an instrument, then while we were tasting a Muscat he talked about using it in a strawberry cake recipe…..wouldn’t that be awesome I thought !!

After our visit at Wiens Winery we headed to a few more before we decided that we HAD to go have something to eat!! But before going to dinner we were given such an awesome tip, I was to go to the CVS close to the wineries and there I would find so many of the wines from the wineries that we visited for pretty much half off and ……she was right!! 

We had such an amazing time and it was nice being back to a place I called home for a few years back in my late twenties. Temecula is such a beautiful place and wine country was just incredible!!

Sunstone Vineyards and Winery

Sunstone Vineyards and Winery is located 30 minutes north of Santa Barbara and is one of the most beautiful wineries and tasting rooms in the Santa Ynez Valley. Sunstone's tasting room is reminiscent of some of the small wineries in the Provencal French countryside, featuring a kitchen complete with a wood-burning oven and two stone barrel-aging caves built into the hillside. The Rice Family farms their  56-acre vineyards in an organic, bio-sustainable manner, meeting all California Certified Organic Farmer standards.

Agua Dulce Winery

Agua Dulce Winery is a 90 acre, fully operational winery and vineyard, featuring daily wine tasting and tours, I just adored their gourmet gift shop, and the wine tasting was so much fun. They are located just 45 minutes north of downtown Los Angeles

Koehler Winery

This beautiful winery is located in the Santa Ynez Valley, Koehler Winery is located in one of California's most diverse and distinctive growing regions. Placed on a 100 acre estate results in a superb quality of fruit, and Koehler's 30 year old vines are recognized as among the best in the Santa Ynez Valley and surrounding area

Bridlewood Estate Winery

Nestled on the eastern edge of the Santa Ynez Valley, 30 miles north of Santa Barbara, our 105-acre estate is set on a high bench of ancient seabed. Our picturesque landscape features a Mission-style winery, hillside vineyards and breathtaking views of the surrounding region.